In the remote Ukrainian hamlet of Hroza, residents are grieving the loss of at least 52 people who were killed when a missile struck a gathering in a local cafe. The attack has devastated the tight-knit community and raised questions about how the Russians could have known about the gathering. Among the victims are a soldier being honored and a woman survived by three children. Many of the bodies are unrecognizable, adding to the grief and difficulty of coping with the loss. At a burial plot next to a field, residents worked quietly to clear space for more graves. The community is in shock as they try to comprehend the tragic event that unfolded the day before.

#Peskov: 🇷🇺does not target civilians.

The missile strike in #Hroza calls for a credible independent int. investigation, rather than Russophobic soundbites.

The attribution of responsibility for this attack can only occur once facts have been properly established on the ground. pic.twitter.com/5SNB1ZK1KR

— Russian Embassy, UK (@RussianEmbassy) October 6, 2023

The missile strike is one of the deadliest attacks during the 20-month-long fighting in the region. Valeriy Kozyr, who lost his daughter and son-in-law in the attack, expressed his grief and disbelief. He now faces the challenge of caring for his three grandchildren, aged 10, 15, and 17. Kozyr wants to bury his daughter and son-in-law side-by-side in a single grave. Other families in the community are also preparing to bury their loved ones. Three brothers are readying a plot for their parents, who were also killed in the attack. The bodies of the victims are still being examined, making it uncertain when the funerals can take place. The devastation in Hroza is just one tragedy among many in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

The Russian denial of targeting civilians contradicts the reality of the bombing campaign that has claimed thousands of lives and destroyed various structures. As darkness fell on Thursday, emergency crews carried white bags containing bodies onto a truck, leaving the villagers in profound grief. Oleksandr Mukhovatyi, who lost multiple family members in the attack, expressed the feeling of betrayal, believing that someone had deliberately targeted them. Rescue workers continued their efforts to search through the debris, hoping to find any survivors or recover the remains of those lost.

The community gathered at a nearby table, laying flowers and lighting candles in memory of the victims. Among the graves at the cemetery stands one that gained additional significance. Andriy Kozyr, a soldier in the Ukrainian army and a distant relative of Valeriy Kozyr, was killed earlier in the conflict. His family wanted to bury him in Hroza when they found his remains in a previously occupied area. However, their attempt to honor his life was interrupted by the missile strike. The death toll from the attack in Hroza has now risen to 52, with the latest victim passing away in the hospital.

Ukrainian authorities are determined to investigate the attack and hold the responsible parties accountable. In addition to the tragedy in Hroza, the news highlights other significant events around the world. Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi wins the Nobel Peace Prize, Turkish forces continue to target militants in Syria, Spain's former king receives a favorable ruling in a London lawsuit, and EU leaders gather to address the migration crisis. Despite these global events, the focus remains on the grieving community in Hroza, where families mourn their loved ones and try to make sense of the horrifying attack. The tight-knit nature of the community has been shattered, leaving a void that will take time to heal.